TRACK-CHANGING DEVICE FOR A PNEUMATIC TRANSPORT VEHICLE

The present invention refers to an improvement developed on a pneumatic transport system for loads and/or passengers whose vehicles are not provided with on-board drive means, being guided on two exclusive tracks arranged in parallel, each track being dedicated to one travel direction, resulting in high transport capacity. The vehicles (1) travel over railway tracks (5) laid over an elevated track (6) supported by pillars (7). The center of the top of the superstructure of the elevated track (6) has a longitudinal slot (9) with seal (8) by means of which the mast (3) of the propulsion plate (4) is allowed to move freely along the path of the vehicle (1). The crossbeam is comprised by four beams which constitute the superstructure of the elevated track, being two turnout beams (6′) and two straight beams (6), whereby the four beams are permanently connected to each other and to the pillars (7) in the region of the heads to form a monolithic hyperstatic structure. In the superstructure of the turnout beams (6′) there are mounted the mobile rails (16, 18 and 21) with their respective drive mechanisms (17, 19 and 20) and locking (15). A section isolation valve is positioned inside the propulsion duct (12) of the turnout beams (6′) and is comprised of a shutter (40) and a linear actuator (41) which activates a set of two articulated rods (42) to the position of the limit stop (43).